This Is Mountain Food
WHAT Sherpa Stew
WHERE Wild Berry Restaurant, Ashford
WHEN After—or during—a rainy Rainier camping trip
WHY The rich beef-and-dumpling soup has real mountain bona fides—the eatery’s owners are Sherpas who hail from the foot of Mount Everest.
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WHAT Sea Salt Baguette and Homemade Goat Cheese
WHERE Mazama Store, Mazama
WHEN For lunch during a Methow Valley bike ride
WHY Chow down picnic style in the garden, the social center of Mazama (population 208).
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WHAT Cinnamon Roll
WHERE Skagit River Resort, Marblemount
WHEN For breakfast on a cross-Cascade scenic drive
WHY Owner Tootsie Clark, 93, bakes these soft rolls for the road crews that clear Highway 20 every spring, and they're as big as grapefruits. Forks are not optional.
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WHAT Huckleberry Milk Shake
WHERE Alpen Drive-In, Sultan
WHEN Going either direction across Highway 2
WHY The kitsch is strong with this one: There are as many colors on the bright picnic shelters as there are flavors on the encyclopedic milk shake menu
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WHAT Mookie Burger and Beer
WHERE North Bend Bar and Grill, North Bend
WHEN After a Snoqualmie Pass hike, to offset all that bloody exercise
WHY Tillamook cheddar is stuffed into the burger patty, and the tap list includes Georgetown favorites and, of course, Rainier.
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WHAT Blackberry Pie a la Mode
WHERE Copper Creek Inn, Ashford
WHEN Anytime you pass it. Every time you pass it.
WHY The Rainier-area eatery has been open for 60-plus years and famous for its sweet, gooey berry mess almost as long. It’s tradition.
